MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – A jury returned a split verdict Friday in a double-murder case that centered on a shootout that broke out at an illegal dice game 5 1/2 years ago.

After deliberating Thursday afternoon and for about an hour Friday, the jury found Jerome Marquis Williams, 39, of Mobile, guilty of murdering Willie Moffett but acquitted him of murder in the death of Carlos Cunningham . The jury also convicted him of one count each of second-degree assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle and an occupied building.

The jury found his brother, Cedric Cortez Williams, 34, of Mobile, not guilty of Moffett’s murder, but guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter in Cunningham’s death. He was also convicted of one of two counts of second-degree assault.

Jerome Williams faces 20 years to life in prison on the murder charge, and his brother’s sentence for manslaughter is 10 to 20 years. Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said his office plans to seek the maximum sentence for both defendants.

“Both of these brothers must be held accountable for their actions,” he said. “This was a volatile situation involving multiple shots. Many more people could have been hurt as a result of this. There were several people who were injured in addition to the two who were killed.”

This week’s trial came more than a year after Mobile County Circuit Judge Vicki Davis declared the trial null and void just before closing arguments after learning that a DNA report from a prosecution expert witness had not been provided to the defense.

“Based on everything that has transpired, our review of the case, we have decided in this office that it is important to retry this case and bring these criminals to justice,” Blackwood said.

James Byrd, Cedric Williams’ attorney, said his client will likely appeal.

“I respect the jury’s decision,” he said. “They went through a lot of evidence, exhibits and testimony, but I respectfully submit that he is not guilty.”

According to testimony this week in Mobile County Circuit Court, 15 to 20 people were gambling in a “skin house” in the 500 block of Dauphin Island Parkway in March 2019 with between 10 and 30 guns. Jerome Williams got into an argument with Moffett over a bet, and then bullets started flying.

Blackwood said investigators have determined others who fired were acting in self-defense or defending others.

Byrd claimed that it was others, not his client, who initiated the violence. During final argumentshe attacked the credibility of witnesses who he said gave statements that were inconsistent with their original statements to the police.

“He was shot in the ass by Carlos Cunningham and shot back and killed Carlos Cunningham,” he said. “And instead of self-defense, the jury said it was manslaughter.”

One of the victims, Moffett, jumped into a red Ford Fusion trying to flee and died from a gunshot wound through the passenger door. Blackwood said the shooting spilled outside the home into a residential area.

“And certainly a dangerous situation,” he said. “You know, the bullets don’t stop in the yard where the fight takes place. So innocent people could have been killed. We are thankful that it did not happen in this case.”

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